Beverage can couplings

ABSTRACT

A coupling for assembling at least two beverage cans together, comprising at least a pair of collar portions, each to slidably receive a corresponding end region of one of the beverage cans, the collar portions being configured to engage the beverage cans for associated games and/or other amusement activities.

REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATIONS

The entire disclosure and subject matter of U.S. Provisional application62/057,907 filed Sep. 30, 2014 entitled BEVERAGE CAN COUPLINGS, and U.S.Provisional application 62/113,039 filed Feb. 6, 2015 entitled BEVERAGECAN COUPLINGS, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety,including all information as originally submitted to the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to beverage cans, and educational and/oramusement activities relating thereto.

BACKGROUND

Beverage cans, have become an essential part of most amusementactivities in North America, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. It is notuncommon for empty cans to be used to assemble into makeshift loosepiles, with off-the-cuff games evolving with them. However, as much asthey are everywhere, beverage cans are, by their nature, light for theirsize, making them liable to move with the slightest gust of wind, orinadvertent contact by moving objects.

It would be desirable to provide a novel approach to beveragecan-related amusements and the like.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventiveconcept herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of theinvention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention.It is not intended to restrict key or critical elements of the inventionor to delineate the scope of the invention.

In an aspect, there is provided a coupling for assembling at least twobeverage cans, comprising at least a pair of individual beverage canreceivers joined at a junction. Each receiver is configured to snuglyand slidably receive a corresponding end region of one of the beveragecans. The coupling is configured in a first mode to form, with at leasttwo of the beverage cans, an end-to-end beverage can subassemblyexposing at least a pair of non-received end regions. The coupling isalso configured in a second mode to join a non-received end region ofeach of least a pair of neighboring beverage can subassemblies forbuilding structural forms for associated games, educational and/or otheramusement activities.

In some exemplary embodiments, each receiver includes a sleeve portionconfigured to provide an inner surface region forming an endregion-receiving zone.

In some exemplary embodiments, each receiver may be adjustablypositioned on the junction to enable the beverage cans in an end-to-endsubassembly to be oriented in alternative designated angularconfigurations.

In some exemplary embodiments, the receivers are arranged in opposedconfigurations of at least three receivers.

In some exemplary embodiments, one or more of the sleeve portionsfurther comprise a plurality of first projections formed on the innersurface region thereof to provide a plurality of contact surfaceportions thereon for localized contact with the corresponding endregion. The first projections may include ridges aligned with a centralaxis.

Some exemplary embodiments further comprise a plurality ofinterconnectors to releasably join the receivers to the junction. Thejunction may include a plurality of receiver locating zones, with eachincluding a first interconnector. Each receiver may be configured tolocate at any one of the receiver locating zones, with each receiverincluding a second interconnector to engage the first interconnector.The first interconnector may be configured to engage the secondinterconnector in at least two positions corresponding to at least twoof the designated angular configurations. Each first or secondinterconnector may include a locating tab or a locating passage toreceive the locating tab. The passage may be provided as a slot, whichmay be configured to provide at least two alternative slot receivingzones. One or more of the slots may have a plurality of slot termini,each to receive the locating tab in a corresponding angularconfiguration. The junction may provide at least one corner region, withone or more of the slots having first and second slot sectors formedtherein, each slot sector providing a terminus to receive the tab incorresponding first and second angular configurations. The locating tabsand the slots may have complementary parallel or non-parallel opposingsurface formations.

In some exemplary embodiments, the slots and tabs have side edge surfaceregions which are complementarily configured to contact one another inan assembled condition. In some examples, the slots and tabs may haverespective parallel or non-parallel opposed edge surface regions forminga triangular configuration. In some examples, the slots and tabs mayhave respective convergent edge surface regions forming a triangularconfiguration.

In some exemplary embodiments, the tab may further comprising a supportpanel with an inner surface facing the edge surface regions and which isconfigured to engage an inner surface of the receiver in the assembledcondition. The support panel may extends laterally beyond the edgesurface regions, to be received by an enlarged entry region in the slot.

In another aspect, there is provided a junction device for use with aplurality of beverage can receivers, in forming a beverage cansubassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at leasttwo beverage cans. The device comprises a body including a plurality ofbeverage can receiver mounting zones, each to receive a correspondingbeverage can receiver thereon, each zone configured to enable thebeverage can receiver to be releasably located in position thereon, inmore than one beverage can receiver configuration.

In another aspect, there is provided a receiver device for use, at leastin groups of two, with a junction unit therebetween, in forming abeverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activitywith at least two beverage cans. The receiver device comprises at leastone inner receiving surface to engage an outer surface on an outer sidewall formed on a corresponding beverage can, and one interconnector formatching interconnection with a complementary interconnector on thejunction.

In another aspect, there is provided a kit for use in forming a beveragecan subassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with atleast two beverage cans, comprising at least one junction device asdefined in one or more clauses of the present disclosure, and aplurality of receiver devices as defined in one or more clauses of thepresent disclosure

In another aspect, there is provided a method of forming a beverage cansubassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at leasttwo beverage cans. The method comprises

-   -   a. providing at least one junction, and at least two beverage        can receivers, the junction portion and receivers mutually        configured for removable interconnection in one or more one        receiver configurations, each receiver configured with at least        one inner receiving surface to engage an outer surface on an        outer side wall formed on a corresponding beverage can;    -   b. selecting the desired receiver configuration for each of the        receivers;    -   c. interconnecting the receivers on the junction; and    -   d. engaging a beverage can with each corresponding receiver to        form the beverage can subassembly.

In some exemplary embodiments, each receiver may be fixedly positionedon the junction.

In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve portions may be coaxial, andin some cases form a tubular structure with the junction being centrallylocated therein.

In some exemplary embodiments, the junction may include a central panelextending laterally across the tubular structure.

In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve further comprises at least oneend surface region providing a plurality of second projectionsconfigured to engage a sealed lid portion on the beverage can. The firstand/or second projections may include elongate ridges oriented coaxiallywith the central axis of the collar portion. The first projections may,in some embodiments, be present without the second projections.

Some exemplary embodiments may comprise one or more flange portionsextending outwardly from the end surface region, with the secondprojections formed thereon and extending inwardly toward a central axisthereof. The flange portions may be symmetrically disposed relative tothe central axis.

In an aspect, there is provided a coupling for assembling at least twobeverage cans together, comprising at least a pair of beverage canreceivers, each to slidably receive a corresponding end region of one ofthe beverage cans, the beverage can receivers being configured to engagethe beverage cans for associated games, educational and/or otheramusement activities.

In some exemplary embodiments, each beverage can receiver includes aplurality of contact surface-providing elements for engagingcorresponding regions of the end region.

Some exemplary embodiments may further comprise a plurality of supportportions to support the contact surface-providing elements in anoperative position to form collectively an end region-receiving zone.Each beverage can receiver may include a collar portion providing aninner surface region forming an end region-receiving zone, in some caseswith a body portion located between the collar portions. The bodyportion may include a panel with a plurality of peripheral regions, witheach said collar portions being positioned near a correspondingperipheral region. The collar portions may be fixed in position relativeto the panel. In some cases, the collar portions may be adjustablyattached to the body portion.

In some exemplary embodiments, the beverage cans and collar portions mayhave complementary cross sections, and in some cases have common crosssections, and in some cases have circular cross sections.

In some exemplary embodiments the collar portions may include at leastthree collar portions to be organized in an opposed configuration. Someexemplary embodiments may further comprise a fourth collar portion to beorthogonal to the at least three collar portions.

Some exemplary embodiments may further comprise a plurality ofprojections located on an inner surface of the collar portion to providea plurality of contact surfaces for contact with the end region of thebeverage can.

Some exemplary embodiments may further comprise a junction locatedbetween the beverage can receivers, and configured to support thereceivers in an operative position. The junction may include a pluralityof receiver mounting portions for mounting the receivers thereto.

In some exemplary embodiments, the receivers and receiver mountingportions may include complementary anchoring segments. The anchoringsegments may include a mounting tab and a corresponding mounting slot.

In another aspect, there is provided an assembly comprising the couplingof any one of the aspects or embodiments disclosed herein, and furthercomprising a plurality of beverage receivers and a correspondingplurality of beverage cans engaged therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several exemplary embodiments will be provided, by way of examples only,with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary coupling;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the coupling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 7 are perspective views of another exemplary coupling;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the coupling of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8 and 11 are perspective views of another exemplary coupling;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the coupling of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show cross sections of portions of exemplaryassemblies;

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show perspective and plan views of another exemplarycoupling;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a junction portion of another exemplarycoupling;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 20 is an end view of the junction portion of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the junction portion of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a receiver portion for use with thejunction portion of FIG. 18 in an exemplary coupling;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the receiver portion of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the receiver portion of FIG. 22; and

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken on line 25-25 of FIG. 24.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show perspective and sectional views of anotherexemplary coupling;

FIG. 28 shows an exemplary assembly employing selected couplings;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another exemplary coupling;

FIGS. 30 to 36 are perspective assembly views of exemplary couplingsusing the junction and receiver portions of FIGS. 18 to 25;

FIGS. 37 to 40 are perspective and end views of another exemplaryjunction and receiver, respectively; and

FIG. 41 is an end view of another exemplary coupling according to FIG.1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms“connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein areused broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings,and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” andvariations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings. Furthermore, and as described in subsequentparagraphs, the specific mechanical and/or other configurationsillustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of theinvention. However, other alternative mechanical and/or otherconfigurations are possible which are considered to be within theteachings of the instant disclosure.

Referring to the FIGS. 1 to 3, a first exemplary embodiment is provided,in the form of a coupling shown at 10 for assembling together twobeverage cans, in the form of cans 12, 14. In this case, the coupling 10is configured to assemble two cans in an opposing format, as an exampleof an end-to-end subassembly, by way of a pair of beverage can receiversin this example in the form of opposing coaxial sleeve or collarportions 16, 18. Each collar portion 16, 18 includes a skirt portion 16a, 18 a extending outwardly from a central boundary wall portion 24,which may be solid or provided with one or more openings 24 a, which inthis example gives the boundary wall portions an open disc shapedconfiguration.

The boundary wall portion 24 is located between the collar portions 16,18, to abut (or otherwise to be adjacent to) an end region 32 of eachbeverage can 12, 14 in an operative condition. In this exemplaryembodiment, the collar portions form parts of a tubular structure with acentral axis 30.

Located on a surface portion of each collar portion are a plurality ofprojections to provide a plurality of contact surfaces for contact withthe corresponding end region of the beverage can, which in this case areprovided in the form of a number of circumferentially spaced ridges orprojections 34, which are coaxial with the axis 30 and which enhance theengagement of each collar portion with the end region 32 of itsassociated beverage can. Thus, each collar portion 16, 18, is configuredto slidably receive a corresponding end region 32 of one of the beveragecans, for associated games and/or other amusement activities.

Referring to the FIGS. 4 to 7, another exemplary embodiment is provided,in the form of a coupling shown at 40 for assembling three beverage cans42, 44, 46 (as well as two others as will be described). In thisexample, a body portion 48 is located between and supports five collarportions, three of which are shown at 50 in an opposed triangularorientation. The collar portions 50 are cup shaped with a skirt portion52 extending from a boundary wall 54 which is positioned near aperipheral region 56 (FIG. 5) of the body portion 48, and in thisexample fixed in position relative thereto. Thus, in this example, thebody portion 48 provides three peripheral regions 56, each holding onecollar portion 50 at about ninety degrees thereto, though other angularorientations may be deployed as desired. The body portion 48 alsoprovides a pair of opposed collar portions 60, each mounted centrally onthe body portion 48 and on opposite sides thereof, thereby to hold acluster of five beverage cans in another example of an end-to-endsubassembly.

Referring to the FIGS. 8 to 11, another exemplary embodiment isprovided, in the form of a coupling shown at 70 for assembling sixbeverage cans, one shown at 72. In this example, a body portion 74 islocated between and supports six collar portions 76, with two sets oftwo opposed collar portions 76 positioned on corresponding opposedperipheral regions 80 and another pair of opposed central collarportions on opposite sides of the body portion 74.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show alternative cross sections between the beveragecan and the collar portion. All three configurations shown demonstratecomplementary cross sections, that is the collar portion cross sectionis complementary with that of the beverage can. Note that FIG. 12 showsa collar portion 82 with a part-circular cross-sectioned structure tomatch that of the beverage can 80, but with a pair of outwardly directedrectangular wing sections 84. FIG. 13 shows the configurations of FIGS.1 to 11 with the collar portion being a circular cross section, whileFIG. 14 has a rectangular structured collar portion 92 with a number ofinwardly directed stabilizers 94 which cooperate to support the beveragecan 90.

FIGS. 15 to 17 show yet another exemplary coupling 100, in which thebody portion 102 supports a collar portion 104 on one boundary and amounting portion 106 at another boundary, at an angle theta relativethereto, in this case about thirty degrees, though other angularorientations may be deployed. In this case, the mounting portion 106 iscomplementary with and configured to engage a collar portion on anadjacent, but separate, coupling, as shown at 108. This is, in function,an intermediate or secondary coupling, which allows a primary couplingto be further configured. If desired, the secondary coupling 100 mayalso be provided with more than one mounting portion, and may in someexamples be provided with two or more mounting portions and no collarportions, in order to join two (or more) primary couplings together.

FIGS. 18 to 25 show yet another exemplary coupling 110, which includes ajunction 112 configured to be located between a plurality of beveragecan receivers 114 (FIG. 22), and configured to support the receivers 114in an operative configuration. The junction portion 112 includes aplurality of receiver mounting portions 116 for mounting the receivers114 thereon. The receivers 114 and receiver mounting portions 116include complementary interconnectors 118, which in one example includea tab 120 and a corresponding passage (in this instance in the form of aslot) 122, which may be located on the receiver 114 and the junction 112respectively, or vice versa.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show another exemplary embodiment, in which a beveragecan receiver 130 includes a plurality of contact surface-providingelements 132 for engaging corresponding regions of the end region of thebeverage can, along with a number of support portions 134 to support thecontact surface-providing elements in an operative position to formcollectively an end region-receiving zone 136. The number of contactsurface-providing elements 132 may be provided in a number of differentconfigurations, for instance to present a claw or hand-like structurewith figures configured to provide number of inner surface regionscooperating to form an end region-receiving zone.

To use the couplings as described herein, a number of beverage cans,such as cans, may be collected as needed. More than one coupling enablesthe beverage cans to be formed in multiple connections, orsubassemblies. In other words, two beverage cans may be formed into asubassembly with one coupling. One beverage can may have a coupling onboth end regions, which can then be repeated as needed to form abeverage can coupling assembly or structural form. In the case of thecoupling of FIG. 1, the coupling subassembly is linear, that isfollowing the aligned axes of each collar. In the case of the couplingof FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, more complex subassemblies may be made withindividual couplings being formed at different beverage can junctions,allowing the beverage can assembly creator a wide degree of possiblestructures. An example is shown in FIG. 28, using the couplings 10, 70and 100 with beverage cans 12, 14.

FIG. 29 shows another coupling 109 with a body portion configured toprovide an adjustable angular orientation, by way of accordion,gooseneck or other configuration. In still other configurations, thebody portion may include two or more articulating segments allowing foradjustable angular orientation between the collar portions, or betweenone collar portion and the body portion.

FIGS. 30 to 36 show further features as well as the assembly of theexemplary coupling 110. As shown in FIG. 30, the junction 112 includesthe receiver mounting portions 116 in the form of receiver locatingzones and each includes a first interconnector, in this example, theslot 122. Meanwhile, each receiver 114 is configured to locate at anyone of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver includes a secondinterconnector, in this case tab 120, to engage the slot 122. In thiscase, the slot 122 may be configured to engage the tab 120 in at leasttwo positions corresponding to at least two of the designated angularconfigurations. The slot 122 may be configured to provide at least twoalternative slot receiving zones, providing in this example a pluralityof slot termini 122 a, 122 b, each terminus to receive the tab in acorresponding angular configuration.

The junction 112 thus provides an end wall 124 (FIG. 32) with a numberof side wall portions 126 forming a corresponding number of cornerregions 128 (FIG. 30), with the slot 122 formed through the transitionprovided by the corner region 128, with a slot termini 122 a, 122 b atthe ends thereof and at two different angles, owing to the includedangle of the end wall portion 124 and the corresponding side wallportion 126. Slots may be provided in different configurations on thejunction, such as shown in dashed lines at 129, enabling the slottermini in this instance to be at a different included angle than as atslot 122.

Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 30 and 31, the receiver 114 may bepositioned on the end wall portion 124 to the assembled position asshown in FIG. 31. As can be seen in FIGS. 32 and 33, the receiver 114may alternatively be positioned on the side wall to the assembledposition as shown in FIG. 33. As can be seen in FIGS. 34 to 36,additional receivers 114 may be positioned on corresponding side walls126 to the assembled positions as shown in FIG. 35, with a receiverpositioned on the back wall as can be seen in FIG. 36.

While the receivers 114 are shown to be identical, they need not be. Forinstance, the receivers may take different shapes and configurationswhile preserving the beverage can engaging function and the junctionlocating function. For instance, the receivers may take the form of afirst group of one or more receivers and a second group of one or morereceivers, among possibly other groups, where the groups have designatedoutward shapes, treatments or graphics, such as different characters ina cartoon sequence, or different brands under a broader beveragecategory.

FIGS. 30 to 36 show further features as well as the assembly of theexemplary coupling 110. As shown in FIG. 30, the junction 112 includesthe receiver mounting portions 116 in the form of receiver locatingzones and each includes a first interconnector, in this example, theslot 122. Meanwhile, each receiver 114 is configured to locate at anyone of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver includes a secondinterconnector, in this case tab 120, to engage the slot 122. In thiscase, the slot 122 may be configured to engage the tab 120 in at leasttwo positions corresponding to at least two of the designated angularconfigurations. The slot 122 may be configured to provide at least twoalternative slot receiving zones, providing in this example a pluralityof slot termini 122 a, 122 b, each terminus to receive the tab in acorresponding angular configuration.

FIGS. 37 to 39 show another exemplary embodiment of an exemplarycoupling 140, in which the interconnectors joining the receivers 142with the junction 144 have additional features. In this case, the slots146 and tabs 150 have respective side edge surface regions 148 and 152which are similarly convergent to form a triangular configuration. Eachtab 150 is provided with a support panel 154, which laterally extendsbeyond the side edge surface regions 152 and has an inner surface 158facing the side edge surface regions 152. The support panel 154 isreceived by an enlarged entry region 156 at the open end of the slot146. Accordingly, installing the tab 150 into the slot 146 requiresaligning the support panel 154 to pass through the enlarged entry region156, to an installed position in the slot 146, where the side edgesurface regions 148, 152 are in contact with one another, while theinner surface 158 is in contact with the inner surface 160 of thejunction 144 in the region surrounding the slot 146, thus providingadditional lateral support to reduce relative movement of the tab 150 inthe slot 146. Thus, the locating tabs and the slots may havecomplementary parallel (as in the earlier embodiments) or non-parallelopposing surface formations as shown in FIGS. 37 to 39.

Referring to FIGS. 39 and 40, the receiver 142 further provides a sleevewhich further comprises at least one end surface region 162 providing aplurality of second projections 166 configured to engage a sealed lidportion 167 a on the beverage can 167. One or more flange portions 168extending outwardly from the end surface region 164, with the secondprojections 166 formed thereon and extending inwardly toward a centralaxis thereof, and which in this example are symmetrically disposedrelative to the central axis. It can be seen that the flange portionshave an inner surface 170 with a radius that is smaller than thecorresponding radius of the inner surface 172 of the sleeve 162, andthus the second projections follow a similarly smaller radial path thanthe first projections shown at 174. The second projections 166 may takeseveral forms and be provided in different configurations to thoseshown, while enabling them to engage the sealed lid portion on thebeverage can, and can be provided on different elements of the assembly.As an additional example, shown in FIG. 41, which shows an end view of atubular coupling 176 corresponding to the coupling 10 in FIGS. 1 to 3,with second projections 178 provided on a plurality of flange portionsshown at 10.

The couplings may be formed form different materials, includingresilient plastics materials, though other materials may also besuitable in some cases, such as molded cardboard and the like. Thedimensions of the collar portions may be selected as appropriate,bearing in mind the structure of the beverage cans, and the degree ofengagement desired between the end region and the corresponding collarportion. The receivers and junction may be formed in a one piececonstruction in different configurations and constructions, includingfoam and the like.

The collar portions may be configured, as shown in some embodimentshereinabove, to be adjustably attached to the body portion, which may beprovided by a web extending from the boundary wall panel and rotatablyor slidably mounted to the panel, as desired, to adjust the position ofthe collar portions relative to the body portion.

While a device or assembly and an accompanying method have beendescribed for what are presently considered the exemplary embodiments,the invention is not so limited. To the contrary, the invention isintended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangementsincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scopeof the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation soas to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

1. A coupling for assembling at least two beverage cans, comprising atleast a pair of individual beverage can receivers joined at a junction,each receiver configured to snugly and slidably receive a correspondingend region of one of the beverage cans, the coupling configured in afirst mode to form, with at least two of the beverage cans, anend-to-end subassembly exposing at least a pair of non-received endregions, the coupling configured in a second mode to join a non-receivedend region of each of least a pair of neighboring beverage cansubassemblies for building structural forms for associated games,educational and/or other amusement activities.
 2. A coupling as definedin claim 1, wherein each receiver includes a sleeve portion configuredto provide an inner surface region forming an end region-receiving zone.3. A coupling as defined in claim 2, each receiver being adjustablypositioned on the junction to enable the beverage cans in the end-to-endsubassembly to be oriented in alternative designated angularconfigurations.
 4. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3,wherein the receivers are arranged in opposed configurations of at leasttwo receivers.
 5. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4,wherein one or more sleeve portions further comprise a plurality offirst projections formed on the inner surface region thereof to providea plurality of contact surface portions thereon for localized contactwith the corresponding end region.
 6. A coupling as defined in claim 5,wherein the first projections include ridges aligned with a centralaxis.
 7. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 3 to 6, furthercomprising a plurality of interconnectors to releasably join thereceivers to the junction.
 8. A coupling as defined in claim 7, thejunction including a plurality of receiver locating zones and eachincluding a first interconnector, each receiver configured to locate atany one of the receiver locating zones, and each receiver including asecond interconnector to engage the first interconnector.
 9. A couplingas defined in claim 8, the first interconnector configured to engage thesecond interconnector in at least two positions corresponding to atleast two of the designated angular configurations.
 10. A coupling asdefined in claim 8 or claim 9, each first or second interconnectorincluding a locating tab, or a locating passage to receive the locatingtab.
 11. A coupling as defined in claim 10, wherein the passage includesa slot configured to provide at least two alternative slot receivingzones.
 12. A coupling as defined in claim 10 or claim 11, one or more ofthe slots having a plurality of slot termini, each terminus to receivethe locating tab in a corresponding angular configuration.
 13. Acoupling as defined in claim 12, the junction providing at least onecorner region, one or more of the slots having first and second slotsectors formed therein, each slot sector providing a terminus to receivethe tab in corresponding first and second angular configurations.
 14. Acoupling as defined in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the locatingtabs and the slots have complementary parallel or non-parallel opposingsurface formations.
 15. A junction device for use with a plurality ofbeverage can receivers, in forming a beverage can subassembly in aneducational and/or amusement activity with at least two beverage cans,comprising a body including a plurality of beverage can receivermounting zones, each to receive a corresponding beverage can receiverthereon, each zone configured to enable the beverage can receiver to bereleasably located in position thereon, in at least one beverage canreceiver configuration.
 16. A receiver device for use, at least ingroups of two, with a junction unit, in forming a beverage cansubassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at leasttwo beverage cans, comprising at least one inner receiving surface toengage an outer surface on an outer side wall formed on a correspondingbeverage can, and at least one interconnector for interconnection with acomplementary interconnector on the junction.
 17. A kit for use informing a beverage can subassembly in an educational and/or amusementactivity with at least two beverage cans, comprising at least onejunction device as defined in claim 15, and a plurality of receiverdevices as defined in claim
 16. 18. A method of forming a beverage cansubassembly in an educational and/or amusement activity with at leasttwo beverage cans, comprising: a. providing at least one junction, andat least two beverage can receivers, the junction portion and receiversmutually configured for removable interconnection in one or more onereceiver configurations, each receiver configured with at least oneinner receiving surface to engage an outer surface on an outer side wallformed on a corresponding beverage can; b. selecting the desiredreceiver configuration for each of the receivers; c. interconnecting thereceivers on the junction; and d. engaging a beverage can with eachcorresponding receiver to form the beverage can subassembly.
 19. Acoupling as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, each receiver being fixedlypositioned on the junction.
 20. A coupling as defined in any one ofclaim 1, 2 or 19, wherein the sleeve portions are coaxial.
 21. Acoupling as defined in any one of claim 1, 2, 19 or 20, wherein thesleeve portions form a tubular structure, the junction being centrallylocated therein.
 22. A coupling as defined in claim 21, the junctionincluding a central panel extending laterally across the tubularstructure.
 23. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 5 to 22,wherein the sleeve further comprises at least one end surface regionproviding a plurality of second projections configured to engage asealed lid portion on the beverage can.
 24. A coupling as defined inclaim 23, further comprising one or more flange portions extendingoutwardly from the end surface region, with the second projectionsformed thereon and extending inwardly toward a central axis thereof. 25.A coupling as defined in claim 24, wherein the flange portions aresymmetrically disposed relative to the central axis.
 26. A coupling forassembling at least two beverage cans together, comprising at least apair of beverage can receivers, each to slidably receive a correspondingend region of one of the beverage cans, the beverage can receivers beingconfigured to engage the beverage cans for associated games, educationaland/or other amusement activities.
 27. A coupling as defined in any oneof claims 1 to 26, wherein each beverage can receiver includes aplurality of contact surface-providing elements for engagingcorresponding regions of the end region.
 28. A coupling as defined inclaim 27, further comprising a plurality of support portions to supportthe contact surface-providing elements in an operative position to formcollectively an end region-receiving zone.
 29. A coupling as defined inclaim 26, wherein each beverage can receiver includes a collar portionproviding an inner surface region forming an end region-receiving zone.30. A coupling as defined in claim 29, further comprising a body portionlocated between the collar portions.
 31. A coupling as defined in claim30, the body portion including a panel with a plurality of peripheralregions, each said collar portions being positioned near a correspondingperipheral region.
 32. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 29 to31, the collar portions being fixed in position relative to the panel.33. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 29 to 32, the collarportions being adjustably attached to the body portion.
 34. An assemblyas defined in any one of claims 29 to 33, the beverage cans and collarportions having complementary cross sections.
 35. An assembly as definedin any one of claims 29 to 34, the beverage cans and collar portionshaving common cross sections.
 36. An assembly as defined in claim 35,the cross sections being circular.
 37. A coupling as defined in any oneof claims 29 to 36, the collar portions including at least three collarportions to be organized in an opposed configuration.
 38. A coupling asdefined in claim 37, further comprising a fourth collar portion to beorthogonal to the at least three collar portions.
 39. A coupling asdefined in any one of claims 26 to 38, further comprising a plurality ofprojections located on an inner surface of the collar portion to providea plurality of contact surfaces for contact with the end region of thebeverage can.
 40. A coupling as defined in any one of claims 26 to 39,further comprising a junction located between the beverage canreceivers, and configured to support the receivers in an operativeposition.
 41. A coupling as defined in claim 40, the junction includinga plurality of receiver mounting portions for mounting the receiversthereto.
 42. A coupling as defined in claim 40 or claim 41, thereceivers and receiver mounting portions including complementaryanchoring segments.
 43. A coupling as defined in claim 42, the anchoringsegments include a mounting tab and a corresponding mounting slot. 44.An assembly comprising the coupling of any one of claims 26 to 43,further comprising a plurality of said beverage receivers and acorresponding plurality of beverage cans engaged therewith.
 45. Anassembly as defined in claim 43, wherein the slots and tabs have sideedge surface regions which are complementarily configured to contact oneanother in an assembled condition.
 46. An assembly as defined in claim45, wherein the slots and tabs have respective parallel or non-parallelopposed edge surface regions forming a triangular configuration.
 47. Anassembly as defined in claim 46, wherein the slots and tabs haverespective convergent edge surface regions forming a triangularconfiguration.
 48. An assembly as defined in claim 46, the tab furthercomprising a support panel with an inner surface facing the edge surfaceregions and which is configured to engage an inner surface of thereceiver in the assembled condition.
 49. An assembly as defined in claim48, wherein the support panel extends laterally beyond the edge surfaceregions, to be received by an enlarged entry region in the slot.